On Sept. 23, a local community of Oswego State professors had arranged to play jazz for students and visitors in the Sheldon Hall Ballroom.
Together, they played classic jazz beats and tunes like “Smile,” written by Charlie Chapman, “Someday My Prince Will Come,” written by Frank Churchill, and “Blues by Five”, written by Miles Davis.
The event was made to bring focus to the local talent that comes from Oswego State professors, along with being a part of their scholarship and recruiting initiative. The team was comprised of four Oswego State music professors, who have been performing at home and all over the country. They have reached the farthest corners of the state, from Manhattan to Long Island, Rochester and Cornell University, and they have even reached out in performing all the way in the heart of the U.S. in areas like northern Iowa.
This crew of musicians have been working together for almost 13 years, according to Rob Auler, the band’s resident pianist. They started off with just two members, Auler and Danny Zienmann, who performs the bands bass, and they quickly met and hired Trevor Jorgensen and Eric Schmitz, Auler said.
“We’re approaching 13 years [of working together] now, and we all still like each other, which is really something for a band,” Auler said. “We’re all music professors. “This is a part of our scholarship. So, when you put out a CD, that is something we help with as creative professionals”.
Auler is a well-renowned pianist in six countries, winning first place in competitions such as “Society of American Musicians” and the “The Stravinsky Awards.” His piano work has been noted by The New York Times for his ability to play with “extraordinary rhythmic clarity and expression.”
Zienmann, an adjunct professor at Oswego State, has been working in freelance music since he was 16 years old and travelling around countries with various musicians such as Gordon Webster. He is also an author, having published a book, “The Low Down: A Guide to Creating Supportive Jazz Bass Lines.”
Jorgensen, the music group main tenor saxophone player, took charge of leading the group throughout the performance. He was joined by Schmitz, the director of Oswego State Jazz Ensemble and the Latin Jazz Ensemble, who plays percussion.
The team first started off playing routine jazz nights at King Arthur’s hotel every Wednesday, but quickly expanded into other parts of the country.
“We really enjoyed mixing artistic performance and working with the students, letting them sit in,” Auler said.” We have also been blessed with being able to make a couple albums.”
Photo by Stephen Novak | The Oswegonian
